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The original was posted on /r/armenia by /u/ar_david_hh on 2024-10-04 19:39:42+00:00.
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unprecedented U.S.-Armenian field exercises were held in Armenia to combat the smuggling of bio-weapons and the export of sanctioned "dual-use" products to Russia
Armenian state agencies and the U.S. Defense Department's Threat Reduction Agency held joint exercises last month within the framework of combatting weapons of mass destruction.
• response in the event of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats
• unprecedented in terms of the number of Armenian state agencies involved and geography
• multiple scenarios played out
• Goal: identify gaps and train the Armenian personnel
U.S. OFFICIAL: Armenia is a geopolitical chessboard, in between the north and the countries to the south and then their neighbors east to west [goddam right, that's how a map works]. It’s growing in popularity as we are starting to see a lot more exports of their goods, a lot more imports and a lot of trans-shipment.
With the way the threats are evolving, it's not so much the big weapons in the past days that threaten them, but a lot of smaller components, using illicit materials for smaller WMDs or delivery systems that pose the larger threat.
We wanted to test their [Armenians'] knowledge of the bio or chemical regimes; dual-use item lists, and other international standards that we know Armenia should be training up on.
I always tell Armenians, this isn’t to trick you or make you look foolish. We want to find the gaps, and train them accordingly to be better prepared. We're just trying to test the barrier on knowledge of fact finding and due diligence of research, document checks, and proper searching techniques.
This is their first time doing this type of exercise and overall was a good one for that brought a lot to light where there are some gaps, and definitely vulnerabilities in coordination that our team and Agency can step in and help them out. //
The exercise scenarios included cows dying mysteriously, rogue scientists smuggling radioactive materials, cars with dangerous materials crashing and contaminating the area, etc.
U.S. OFFICIAL: The final scenario focused on dual-use items of concern. Armenia being a transshipment country is on the list of trying to enforce sanctions against Russia, China, and Iran. We have brought some real life injects into this scenario. Smuggling drones, chemical analyzers, and parts out of washing machines that are used to put together delivery systems. Also, small bits and pieces of hazardous waste material that when you put it together with some of the other items of concern, you realize quickly, "those two shouldn't go together". //
The field exercise was a culminating event on the heels of an earlier Tabletop Exercise and nearly two years of planning and collaboration.
EU denies Russia's accusations against Armenia-West relations
EU Spokesman Stano denied the "nonsense" allegations made by Russian KGB chief Bortnikov that the West is pushing Armenia to delay the peace talks with Azerbaijan so it can deploy a NATO contingent in the South Caucasus as a pretext to help the AM-AZ normalization process.
EU: These comments are full of nonsense and the usual lies and manipulations typical for the Russian regime that tries to cover its repeated failures to deliver on its promises and commitments to Armenia. //
Moscow believes the West is arming Armenia and offering security guarantees in exchange for Armenia's withdrawal from the Russian-led CSTO bloc, "which would make Yerevan more dependent on NATO in matters of its future relations with Baku," said Bortnikov.
ARF MP Garnik, co-leader of the ongoing street protest to oust PM Pashinyan, calls for the deployment of Russian forces along a route in Syunik for Azerbaijan, in exchange for Armenians' return to Nagorno-Karabakh: VIDEO
Garnik has figured it all out: give Russia a route in exchange for Armenians hopefully returning to Karabakh safely.
He criticized the Pashinyan administration's announcement of possibly involving a third-party international company, instead of Russian boots on the ground, for the co-oversight of the route [i.e. international company's security guards boarding a train in Azerbaijan and traveling through Armenia while sitting next to Azeris to make them feel safer].
Garnik also takes Russian Deputy PM Overchuk's word that Russian forces on the ground wouldn't operate a "corridor". "Overchuck said there is no corridor logic there," said Garnik.
Reminder: Azerbaijan doesn't want an Armenian presence on the route, so they essentially want a corridor outside of Armenian control. Russia criticizes Armenia when Armenia rejects Azerbaijan's corridor demands, which contradicts Overchuk's promises that it won't be a "corridor".
Armenian government and NATO discuss areas of cooperation
A delegation led by LtGen Adamczak, NATO Director General of the International Military Staff, arrived in Armenia.
They were hosted by army CoGS Asryan and Defense Ministry's Defense Policy and International Cooperation chief Ayvazyan.
They discussed AM-NATO cooperation and potential opportunities for its expansion. The Armenian side presented the ongoing army reforms and the situation in the region.
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev urges the West to "leave South Caucasus alone", criticizes the United States
ALIYEV: Armenia is playing a dangerous game, talking about peace and arming at the same time. Countries with an anti-Azerbaijani policy should leave the South Caucasus alone and deal with their affairs and bloody past. //
Aliyev also complained that the U.S. continues to apply the sanctions imposed on Azerbaijan in 1992, even though it had been canceling them by a special decision for several years.
Aliyev expressed concern that 60 U.S. congressmen appealed to the U.S. government, calling for new sanctions against Azerbaijan. Aliyev, while taking a shot at Secretary Blinken, said he believes the U.S. Government is the real author of that text presented by the U.S. Congressmembers.
source, source, Armenia responds,
Armenia and UK discussed the development of economic relations
Economy Minister Papoyan hosted the UK Ambassador Gallagher and the UK’s Trade Commissioner Poleo. They discussed tourism, services, trade, infrastructures, investments, B2B, and the Crossroads of Peace.
European institutions have decided to suspend meetings with the anti-EU government of Georgia: EU Ambassador to Georgia
AMBASSADOR: The EU is ready to work with a government that's ready to join the EU. If Georgia becomes a uniparty state where the opposition is banned and the civil society is suppressed, Georgia cannot become a member of the EU - not today, not tomorrow. I urge the citizens of Georgia to actively participate in the upcoming elections. //
Armenia's Diaspora Office chief urges Lebanese Armenians to consider a move to Armenia
Zareh Sinanyan said there have been no injuries among Armenians but urged people to make a safety-related decision quickly:
SINANYAN: Armenians of Aleppo believed until the end that the civil war would bypass them, so they waited too long. In the end, many of them were unable to sell or transfer their properties. Despite our own security problems, Armenia is much safer than Lebanon.
Armenia has gained experience with evacuating its ...
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